Matobato complaint vs Duterte ‘nothing but harassment’—Palace

Edgar Matobato.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

The complaint filed by confessed hitman Edgar Matobato against President Rodrigo Duterte is nothing but “harassment,” Malacañang said Friday.

“The complaint is nothing but harassment aimed at distracting the Chief Executive from performing his duty,” Communications Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag said in a statement.

READ: Matobato asks Ombudsman to probe Duterte over DDS links

While the Palace acknowledges the power of the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate government officials, Banaag said the anti-graft agency could not discipline or remove impeachable officials.

“It is noteworthy to mention that the Ombudsman cannot discipline or remove impeachable officials, who include the President.  He enjoys immunity while in office,” she said.

Banaag said Malacañang could not comment further on the issue as it has just been filed.

BACKSTORY: Duterte on Matobato: I don’t know him

But she noted that “the Ombudsman already terminated an earlier investigation on the Davao Death Squad case which linked then Davao City Mayor Duterte.” IDL/rga